Occupational Therapys Role in Mental Health Promotion, Prevention, & Intervention With Children & Youth

How To Use AOTAs Mental Health Information Sheets

Description
The free downloadable information sheets at http://www.aota.org/Practitioners-Section/Children-and-Youth/Browse/ School/Toolkit.aspx were developed for occupational therapy practitioners working with children and youth in school and community settings to obtain specific knowledge about mental health (MH) promotion, prevention, and intervention and to guide service provision. Each information sheet provides an overview of the topic, implications for occupational therapy, and strategies for MH promotion, prevention, and intervention in a variety of settings. Each sheet also provides important references and Internet resources for further reading and resource allocation. These information sheets are intended to provide: 1) foundation information about the topic to familiarize the OT practitioner about the subject; and 2) references and Internet resources to extend learning about the topic. 1. Content draws on current literature about a public health approach to MH emphasizing MH promotion for all children with and without identified disabilities or MH challenges MH promotion: strategies for optimizing mental health MH prevention: strategies to reduce mental health problems before identification of a specific mental health problem MH individual intervention: strategies to diminish or end the effects of an identified mental health problem after the problem has been identified 2. Services are depicted in tiers (see diagram at right): tier 1: Universal (for whole population emphasizing promotion and prevention efforts) tier 2: Targeted (prevention and early intervention for children at risk of developing MH challenges) tier 3: Intensive individualized interventions (for children already identified with MH challenges or illness) 3. A variety of topics are addressed specific to MH promotion, prevention, and intervention including but not limited to:

public HealtH MoDel of occupational tHerapy services to proMote Mental HealtH in cHilDren anD youtH

SCHOOL
Provide individual or group intervention to students with mental health concerns. Collaborate with the school-based mental health providers to ensure a coordinated system of care for students needing intensive interventions.

COMMUNITY
Individual interventions to support occupational performance and mental health in community settings focusing on leisure, work, and transition-related activities.

Tier 3
Provide leisure coaching for youth at risk of limited leisure participation. Consult with community recreation, youth clubs, spor ts, and ar ts programming to promote and suppor t inclusion of youth with disabilities and/or mental health concerns. Look for opportunities to provide group interventions for at-risk youth those dealing with poverty, bullying, loss, obesity.

Develop and run group programs to foster social participation for students struggling with peer interaction. Consult with teachers to modify learning demands and academic routines for at-risk students.

Tier 2

Mental health literacy Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Positive Behavioral Supports (PBS) Obesity Foster participation in meaningful structured Assist in schoolwide prevention efforts, leisure activities. including SEL, PBIS, bully prevention Bullying programs. Promote satisfying friendships. Collaborate with school personnel to create Grieving loss Educate youth, family, and teachers about positive environments to support mental of leisure participation. the Strength-based approaches health (caring relationships, programs that Assist in community efforts to promote foster skill building, sensory friendly). childrens mental health. Anxiety disorders Informally observe all children for behaviors Articulate the scope of occupational that might suggest mental health concerns Depression therapy to include mental health promotion, and bring concerns to team. prevention, and inter vention (all levels). Thought disorders or Schizophrenia Articulate the scope of occupational therapy to include mental health promotion, Bipolar disorder prevention, and inter vention (all levels). (Bazyk, 2011, p. 13) Autism spectrum disorder Bazyk, S. (Ed.). (2011). Mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention for children and youth: A guiding framework Recess promotion Figure 1.3. occupational therapy. Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press. for Public health model of occupational therapy services to promote mental health in children and youth.

Tier 1

Note. PBIS = positive behavioral interventions and supports; SEL = social and emotional learning. Note: PBIS = positive behavioral interventions

Continued on the next page

and supports; SEL = social and emotional learning.

www.aota.org

How to Use AOTAs Mental Health Information Sheets

recoMMenDations for How to use tHese resources
Select and read one of the information sheets prior to a staff meeting. Assign occupational therapy practitioners to read one of the reference articles or review one of the Internet resources and report useful information at the staff meeting. Discuss strategies for applying the information at the teams work site. Repeat the process until you have covered all of the information sheets. Keep track of how the team addresses MH promotion, prevention, and intervention at Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Articulate occupational therapys role in written reports and verbally in team meetings. Pair the information sheets with related resources found at the Children and Youth area of the AOTA website http://www.aota.org/practitioners/practiceareas/pediatrics.aspx. For example, refer to the AOTA pediatric virtual chat (www.talkshoe.com/tc/73733) on obesity after reviewing the Childhood Obesity information sheet.

Developed by: Initially developed by occupational therapy students under the supervision of Dr. Susan Bazyk at Cleveland State University in 2010 and used to host a Childrens Mental Health Day open house event. The AOTA School Mental Health workgroup revised these original information sheets in 2011 and 2012. contributing authors: Susan Bazyk, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Lisa Crabtree, PhD, OTR/L; Donna Downing, MS, OTR/L; Claudette Fette, PhD, OTR, CRC; Deborah Marr, ScD, OTR/L; Laurette Olson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Michael Pizzi, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, and Sandy Schefkind, MS, OTR/L.

aDDitional resources
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2008) FAQ on School Mental Health for School-Based Occupational Therapy Practitioners. Retrieved on December 12, 2011, from http://www.aota.org/practitioners-section/children-and-youth/browse/school/rti/faqschoolmh.aspx?ft=.pdf American Occupational Therapy Association Fact Sheet. (2009) Occupational Therapy and School Mental Health. Retrieved on December 12, 2011, from http://www.aota.org/practitioners-section/children-and-youth/browse/MH/school-MH.aspx?ft=.pdf

This information was prepared by AOTAs School Mental Health Work Group (2012).
This information sheet is part of a School Mental Health Toolkit at http://www.aota.org/Practitioners-Section/Children-and-Youth/Browse/School/Toolkit.aspx